# List of Indigenous Australian politicians

This list of Indigenous Australian politicians includes Indigenous Australians who have been members of Australian legislatures—federal, state or territory. It does not include those elected to local councils (including mayors), Governors/Governors-General, leaders of political parties (outside of parliament), Indigenous Australians actively involved in political institutions and those who have run unsuccessfully for office.
There have been 53 Indigenous members of the ten Australian legislatures, beginning when Neville Bonner entered the Australian Senate on 15 August 1971. Of these, 23 have been elected to the Northern Territory assembly, eleven to the Australian Federal Parliament, six to the parliament of Western Australia, five to the parliament of Queensland, two each to the parliaments of Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales, and one each to the parliament of South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory assembly. Three have served in multiple parliaments.
As of 2023, Indigenous Australians make up 10.5% of the Senate and 1.9% of the House of Representatives. The total representation is at 4.8%, which is above their representation in the total population (3.3%).
Out of the 53 Indigenous Australians elected or appointed to any Australian parliament, 24 have been women.
Nobody of acknowledged Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander ancestry has yet been a member of the Norfolk Island assembly.
Note: There is considerable debate surrounding the complexity of Indigenous identity. Therefore, this list only includes those who identify themselves as Indigenous Australian. Also note that "origin" or "ancestry" refers to the Indigenous groups, communities, countries, place names or languages which that person identifies with. Some individuals do not have any specific Indigenous group identity and some have multiple identities.

## Federal Parliament

Fifteen Indigenous Australian people have been members of the Parliament of Australia (the Federal Parliament), eleven in the Senate and four in the House of Representatives. Ten of them are in it today.
| No. | Name | Party | Chamber | Constituency | Origin | Term start | Term end | Term length |
| 1 | Neville Bonner | Liberal | Senate | Queensland | Jagera | 15 August 1971 | 4 February 1983 | 11 years, 173 days |
| 2 | Aden Ridgeway | Democrats | Senate | New South Wales | Gumbaynggirr | 1 July 1999 | 30 June 2005 | 5 years, 364 days |
| 3 | Ken Wyatt | Liberal | House | Hasluck (WA) | Noongar Wangai Yamatji | 21 August 2010 | 21 May 2022 | 11 years, 273 days |
| 4 | Nova Peris | Labor | Senate | Northern Territory | Gija (WA) Iwaidja Yawuru (WA) | 7 September 2013 | 9 May 2016 | 2 years, 245 days |
| 5 | Joanna Lindgren | Liberal | Senate | Queensland | Jagera Mununjali | 21 May 2015 | 2 July 2016 | 1 year, 42 days |
| 6 | Pat Dodson | Labor | Senate | Western Australia | Yawuru | 28 April 2016 | 26 January 2024 | 7 years, 273 days |
| 7 | Linda Burney | Labor | House | Barton (NSW) | Wiradjuri | 2 July 2016 | incumbent | 8 years, 99 days |
| 8 | Malarndirri McCarthy | Labor | Senate | Northern Territory | Yanyuwa | 2 July 2016 | incumbent | 8 years, 99 days |
| 9 | Lidia Thorpe | Greens | Senate | Victoria | Djab Wurrung Gunai Gunditjmara | 4 September 2020 | 6 February 2023 | 4 years, 35 days |
| 9 | Lidia Thorpe | Independent | Senate | Victoria | Djab Wurrung Gunai Gunditjmara | 6 February 2023 | incumbent | 4 years, 35 days |
| 10 | Dorinda Cox | Greens | Senate | Western Australia | Yamatji Noongar | 14 September 2021 | incumbent | 3 years, 25 days |
| 11 | Jana Stewart | Labor | Senate | Victoria | Muthi Muthi Wemba-Wemba | 6 April 2022 | incumbent | 2 years, 186 days |
| 12 | Jacinta Nampijinpa Price | Country Liberal Party | Senate | Northern Territory | Warlpiri | 21 May 2022 | incumbent | 2 years, 141 days |
| 13 | Gordon Reid | Labor | House | Robertson (NSW) | Wiradjuri | 21 May 2022 | incumbent | 2 years, 141 days |
| 14 | Marion Scrymgour | Labor | House | Lingiari (NT) | Tiwi | 21 May 2022 | incumbent | 2 years, 141 days |
| 15 | Kerrynne Liddle | Liberal | Senate | South Australia | Arrernte | 1 July 2022 | incumbent | 2 years, 100 days |
At least four other members of the Federal Parliament have acknowledged Indigenous ancestry, but are or were not generally regarded as Indigenous themselves.
| No. | Name | Party | Chamber | Constituency | Ancestry | Term start | Term end |
| 1 | David Kennedy | Labor | House | Bendigo (Vic.) | Palawa | 7 June 1969 | 2 December 1972 |
| 2 | Mal Brough | Liberal | House | Longman (Qld) | unknown (WA) | 2 March 1996 | 24 November 2007 |
| 2 | Mal Brough | Liberal | House | Fisher (Qld) | unknown (WA) | 7 September 2013 | 9 May 2016 |
| 3 | Kerry Rea | Labor | House | Bonner (Qld) | not stated | 24 November 2007 | 21 August 2010 |
| 4 | Jacqui Lambie | PUP | Senate | Tasmania | Palawa | 1 July 2014 | 24 November 2014 |
| 4 | Jacqui Lambie | Independent | Senate | Tasmania | Palawa | 24 November 2014 | 14 May 2015 |
| 4 | Jacqui Lambie | JLN | Senate | Tasmania | Palawa | 14 May 2015 | 14 November 2017 |
| 4 | Jacqui Lambie | JLN | Senate | Tasmania | Palawa | 1 July 2019 | incumbent |

### Timeline
## Parliament of the Australian Capital Territory

One Indigenous Australian person has been a member of the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly.
| No. | Name | Party | Party | Constituency | Origin | Term start | Term end | Ref |
| 1 | Chris Bourke | | Labor | Ginninderra | | 1 June 2011 | 15 October 2016 | |

## Parliament of New South Wales

Four Indigenous Australians have been a members of the Parliament of New South Wales.
| No. | Name | Party | Chamber | Constituency | Origin | Term start | Term end |
| 1 | Linda Burney | Labor | Legislative Assembly | Canterbury | Wiradjuri | 22 March 2003 | 6 May 2016 |
| 2 | Lynda Voltz | Labor | Legislative Council | Legislative Council | | 24 March 2007 | 28 February 2019 |
| 2 | Lynda Voltz | Labor | Legislative Assembly | Auburn | | 23 March 2019 | incumbent |
| 3 | Jai Rowell | Liberal | Legislative Assembly | Wollondilly | | 26 March 2011 | 17 December 2018 |
| 4 | Greg Warren | Labor | Legislative Assembly | Campbelltown | Yuin | 28 March 2015 | incumbent |

## Parliament of the Northern Territory

Twenty-four Indigenous Australian people have been members of the unicameral Parliament of the Northern Territory.
| No. | Name | Party | Constituency | Origin | Term start | Term end |
| 1 | Hyacinth Tungutalum | CLP | Tiwi | Tiwi | 19 October 1974 | 13 August 1977 |
| 2 | Neville Perkins | Labor | MacDonnell | Arrernte | 13 August 1977 | 6 March 1981 |
| 3 | Wes Lanhupuy | Labor | Arnhem | Yolngu | 3 December 1983 | 25 August 1995 |
| 4 | Stan Tipiloura | Labor | Arafura | Tiwi | 7 March 1987 | 20 September 1992 |
| 5 | Maurice Rioli | Labor | Arafura | Tiwi | 7 November 1992 | 17 August 2001 |
| 6 | Jack Ah Kit | Labor | Arnhem | Arrernte | 7 October 1995 | 18 June 2005 |
| 7 | Matthew Bonson | Labor | Millner | | 18 August 2001 | 8 August 2008 |
| 8 | Elliot McAdam | Labor | Barkly | Jingili | 18 August 2001 | 8 August 2008 |
| 9 | Marion Scrymgour | Labor | Arafura | Tiwi | 18 August 2001 | 4 June 2009 |
| 9 | Marion Scrymgour | Independent | Arafura | Tiwi | 4 June 2009 | 4 August 2009 |
| 9 | Marion Scrymgour | Labor | Arafura | Tiwi | 4 August 2009 | 6 August 2012 |
| 10 | Alison Anderson | Labor | MacDonnell | Arrernte | 18 June 2005 | 4 August 2009 |
| 10 | Alison Anderson | Independent | MacDonnell | Arrernte | 4 August 2009 | 9 September 2011 |
| 10 | Alison Anderson | CLP | MacDonnell | Arrernte | 9 September 2011 | 25 August 2012 |
| 10 | Alison Anderson | CLP | Namatjira | Arrernte | 25 August 2012 | 4 April 2014 |
| 10 | Alison Anderson | Independent | Namatjira | Arrernte | 4 April 2014 | 27 April 2014 |
| 10 | Alison Anderson | PUP | Namatjira | Arrernte | 27 April 2014 | 29 November 2014 |
| 10 | Alison Anderson | Independent | Namatjira | Arrernte | 29 November 2014 | 8 August 2016 |
| 11 | Malarndirri McCarthy | Labor | Arnhem | Yanyuwa | 18 June 2005 | 6 August 2012 |
| 12 | Karl Hampton | Labor | Stuart | Warlpiri, Ngulikan and Mara | 23 September 2006 | 6 August 2012 |
| 13 | Adam Giles | CLP | Braitling | Kamilaroi (NSW) | 9 August 2008 | 27 August 2016 |
| 14 | Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu | CLP | Arafura | Tiwi | 25 August 2012 | 4 April 2014 |
| 14 | Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu | Independent | Arafura | Tiwi | 4 April 2014 | 27 April 2014 |
| 14 | Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu | PUP | Arafura | Tiwi | 27 April 2014 | 8 September 2014 |
| 14 | Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu | CLP | Arafura | Tiwi | 8 September 2014 | 27 August 2016 |
| 15 | Larisa Lee | CLP | Arnhem | Jawoyn | 25 August 2012 | 4 April 2014 |
| 15 | Larisa Lee | Independent | Arnhem | Jawoyn | 4 April 2014 | 27 April 2014 |
| 15 | Larisa Lee | PUP | Arnhem | Jawoyn | 27 April 2014 | 29 November 2014 |
| 15 | Larisa Lee | Independent | Arnhem | Jawoyn | 29 November 2014 | 27 August 2016 |
| 16 | Ken Vowles | Labor | Johnston | | 25 August 2012 | 31 January 2020 |
| 17 | Bess Price | CLP | Stuart | Warlpiri | 25 August 2012 | 27 August 2016 |
| 18 | Lawrence Costa | Labor | Arafura | Tiwi | 27 August 2016 | 17 December 2022 |
| 19 | Selena Uibo | Labor | Arnhem | Nunggubuyu, Warnindhilyagwa | 27 August 2016 | incumbent |
| 20 | Ngaree Ah Kit | Labor | Karama | | 27 August 2016 | incumbent |
| 21 | Chansey Paech | Labor | Namatjira | Eastern Arrernte/Gurindji | 27 August 2016 | incumbent |
| 22 | Yingiya Mark Guyula | Independent | Nhulunbuy | Yolngu | 27 August 2016 | incumbent |
| 23 | Dheran Young | Labor | Daly | Yaegl (NSW) | 11 September 2021 | incumbent |
| 24 | Manuel Brown | Labor | Arafura | Tiwi | 18 March 2023 | incumbent |

## Parliament of Queensland

Five Indigenous Australian people have been members of the unicameral Parliament of Queensland.
| No. | Name | Party | Constituency | Origin | Term start | Term end |
| 1 | Eric Deeral | Country | Cook | Guugu Yimithirr | 7 December 1974 | 12 November 1977 |
| 2 | Leeanne Enoch | Labor | Algester | Nunukul Quandamooka | 31 January 2015 | incumbent |
| 3 | Billy Gordon | Labor | Cook | | 31 January 2015 | 29 March 2015 |
| 3 | Billy Gordon | Independent | Cook | | 29 March 2015 | 25 November 2017 |
| 4 | Cynthia Lui | Labor | Cook | Torres Strait Islanders | 25 November 2017 | incumbent |
| 5 | Lance McCallum | Labor | Bundamba | Gubbi Gubbi | 28 March 2020 | incumbent |

## Parliament of South Australia

One Indigenous Australian person has been a member of the Parliament of South Australia.
| No. | Name | Party | Party | Chamber | Constituency | Origin | Term start | Term end | Ref |
| 1 | Kyam Maher | | Labor | Legislative Council | Statewide | Palawa | 17 October 2012 | incumbent | |

## Parliament of Tasmania

Two Indigenous Australian people have been a member of the Parliament of Tasmania.
| No. | Name | Party | Party | Chamber | Constituency | Origin | Term start | Term end | Ref |
| 1 | Kathryn Hay | | Labor | House of Assembly | Bass | Noongar (WA) | 20 July 2002 | 18 March 2006 | |
| 2 | Jennifer Houston | | Labor | House of Assembly | Bass | Palawa | 3 March 2018 | 13 May 2021 | |
At least one other member of the Parliament of Tasmania has acknowledged Indigenous ancestry, but is not generally regarded as Indigenous themself.
| No. | Name | Party | Party | Chamber | Constituency | Ancestry | Term start | Term end | Ref |
| 1 | Paul Harriss | | Independent | Legislative Council | Huon | | 25 May 1996 | 24 February 2014 | |
| 1 | Paul Harriss | | Liberal | House of Assembly | Franklin | | 15 March 2014 | 18 February 2016 | |

## Parliament of Victoria

Two Indigenous Australian people have been members of the Parliament of Victoria.
| No. | Name | Party | Party | Chamber | Constituency | Origin | Term start | Term end | Ref |
| 1 | Lidia Thorpe | | Greens | Legislative Assembly | Northcote | Djab Wurrung Gunai Gunditjmara | 18 November 2017 | 24 November 2018 | |
| 2 | Sheena Watt | | Labor | Legislative Council | Northern Metropolitan | Yorta Yorta | 13 October 2020 | incumbent | |
At least two members have had acknowledged Indigenous ancestry, but were not generally regarded as Indigenous themselves.
| No. | Name | Party | Chamber | Constituency | Ancestry | Term start | Term end |
| 1 | Cyril Kennedy | Labor | Legislative Council | Waverley | Palawa | 5 May 1979 | 2 October 1992 |
| 2 | David Kennedy | Labor | Legislative Assembly | Bendigo | Palawa | 3 April 1982 | 1 March 1985 |
| 2 | David Kennedy | Labor | Legislative Assembly | Bendigo West | Palawa | 1 March 1985 | 2 October 1992 |

## Parliament of Western Australia

Four Indigenous Australian people have been members of the Parliament of Western Australia, all of whom were elected to the Legislative Assembly until Rosetta Sahanna was elected to the Legislative Council in 2021.
| No. | Name | Party | Chamber | Constituency | Origin | Term start | Term end |
| 1 | Ernie Bridge | Labor | Legislative Assembly | Kimberley | | 23 February 1980 | 27 July 1996 |
| 1 | Ernie Bridge | Independent | Legislative Assembly | Kimberley | | 27 July 1996 | 10 February 2001 |
| 2 | Carol Martin | Labor | Legislative Assembly | Kimberley | | 10 February 2001 | 9 March 2013 |
| 3 | Ben Wyatt | Labor | Legislative Assembly | Victoria Park | Yamatji | 11 March 2006 | 13 March 2021 |
| 4 | Josie Farrer | Labor | Legislative Assembly | Kimberley | Gija | 9 March 2013 | 13 March 2021 |
| 5 | Divina D'Anna | Labor | Legislative Assembly | Kimberley | Yawuru Nimanburru Bardi | 13 March 2021 | incumbent |
| 6 | Rosetta Sahanna | Labor | Legislative Council | Mining and Pastoral | Wilinggin | 22 May 2021 | incumbent |
At least one other member of the Parliament of Western Australia has acknowledged Indigenous ancestry, but is not generally regarded as Indigenous themself.
| No. | Name | Party | Party | Chamber | Constituency | Ancestry | Term start | Term end | Ref |
| 1 | Zak Kirkup | | Liberal | Legislative Assembly | Dawesville | Yamatji | 11 March 2017 | 13 March 2021 | |

## Notable unsuccessful candidates

Many Indigenous Australians have also stood unsuccessfully for office. This is a list of other notable Indigenous Australians to have run in state, territory or federal elections.
| Name | Party | Constituency | Election | Origin |
| Harold Blair | Labor | Mentone | 1964 Victoria | |
| Oodgeroo Noonuccal | Labor | Greenslopes | 1969 Queensland | Nunukul |
| Oodgeroo Noonuccal | Democrats | Redlands | 1983 Queensland | Nunukul |
| Gordon Briscoe | Australia | Northern Territory (HoR division) | 1972 federal | Marduntjara Pitjantjatjara |
| Pat Eatock | Independent | Australian Capital Territory (HoR division) | 1972 federal | Gayiri |
| Pat O'Shane | Communist | New South Wales (Senate) | 1974 federal | Kuku Yalanji |
| Pat O'Shane | Socialist Alliance | Leichhardt | 2022 federal | Kuku Yalanji |
| Gatjil Djerrkura | Country Liberal | Arnhem | 1980 Northern Territory | Wanguri Yolŋu |
| Rosalie Kunoth-Monks | Country Liberal | MacDonnell | 1980 Northern Territory | Anmatyerr Arrernte |
| Rosalie Kunoth-Monks | Country Liberal | MacDonnell | 1981 MacDonnell by-election (Northern Territory) | Anmatyerr Arrernte |
| Rosalie Kunoth-Monks | First Nations | Northern Territory (Senate) | 2013 federal | Anmatyerr Arrernte |
| Galarrwuy Yunupingu | Independent | Northern Territory (HoR division) | 1980 federal | Gumatj Yolŋu |
| Burnum Burnum | Independent | New South Wales (Senate) | 1983 federal | Woiwurrung Wurundjeri Yorta Yorta |
| Burnum Burnum | Independent | New South Wales (Senate) | 1984 federal | Woiwurrung Wurundjeri Yorta Yorta |
| Burnum Burnum | Democrats | North Shore | 1988 North Shore by-election (New South Wales) | Woiwurrung Wurundjeri Yorta Yorta |
| Vincent Forrester | Independent | Northern Territory (Senate) | 1984 federal | Arrernte Luritja |
| Vincent Forrester | Independent | Stuart | 1987 Northern Territory | Arrernte Luritja |
| Vincent Forrester | Independent | MacDonnell | 2005 Northern Territory | Arrernte Luritja |
| Vincent Forrester | Greens | Namatjira | 2016 Northern Territory | Arrernte Luritja |
| Michael Mansell | Independent | Tasmania (Senate) | 1987 federal | Pinterrairer Palawa Trawlwoolway Palawa |
| Ruby Hammond | Independent | Port Adelaide | 1988 Port Adelaide by-election (federal) | Arrernte Tanganekald Ngarrindjeri |
| Darby McCarthy | Indigenous Peoples | Clayfield | 1992 Queensland | Gunggari |
| Darby McCarthy | Indigenous Peoples | Queensland (Senate) | 1993 federal | Gunggari |
| Clarrie Isaacs | Independent | Fremantle | 1993 Western Australia | Noongar |
| Clarrie Isaacs | Racism No! | South Metropolitan Region | 1996 Western Australia | Noongar |
| Clarrie Isaacs | Independent | Western Australia (Senate) | 2001 federal | Noongar |
| Sam Watson | Indigenous Peoples | Fisher | 1993 federal | Birri Gubba Mununjali Yugambeh |
| Sam Watson | Indigenous Peoples | Queensland (Senate) | 1996 federal | Birri Gubba Mununjali Yugambeh |
| Sam Watson | Independent | Queensland (Senate) | 2001 federal | Birri Gubba Mununjali Yugambeh |
| Sam Watson | Socialist Alliance | Queensland (Senate) | 2004 federal | Birri Gubba Mununjali Yugambeh |
| Sam Watson | Independent | Brisbane Central | 2006 Queensland | Birri Gubba Mununjali Yugambeh |
| Sam Watson | Socialist Alliance | Queensland (Senate) | 2007 federal | Birri Gubba Mununjali Yugambeh |
| Sam Watson | Independent | South Brisbane | 2009 Queensland | Birri Gubba Mununjali Yugambeh |
| Sam Watson | Socialist Alliance | Queensland (Senate) | 2010 federal | Birri Gubba Mununjali Yugambeh |
| Cedric Wyatt | Liberal | Kalgoorlie | 1996 federal | Yamatji |
| Warren Mundine | Labor | Dubbo | 1999 New South Wales | Bundjalung Gumbaynggirr Yuin |
| Warren Mundine | Labor | New South Wales (Senate) | 2001 federal | Bundjalung Gumbaynggirr Yuin |
| Warren Mundine | Labor | Legislative Council (statewide) | 2003 New South Wales | Bundjalung Gumbaynggirr Yuin |
| Warren Mundine | Liberal | Gilmore | 2019 federal | Bundjalung Gumbaynggirr Yuin |
| Geoff Clark | Independent | Frankston East | 1999 Victoria (supplementary) | Gunditjmara |
| Andrea Mason | Family First | Adelaide | 2002 South Australia | Karonie Ngaanyatjarra |
| Andrea Mason | Family First | South Australia (Senate) | 2004 federal | Karonie Ngaanyatjarra |
| Tauto Sansbury | Independent No Empty Promises Just Results | Legislative Council (statewide) | 2002 South Australia | Narungga |
| Tauto Sansbury | Labor | Flinders | 2010 South Australia | Narungga |
| Tauto Sansbury | Labor | Grey | 2010 federal | Narungga |
| Richard Frankland | Independent | Victoria | 2004 federal | Gunditjmara |
| Kado Muir | Greens | Kalgoorlie | 2004 federal | Ngalia |
| Kado Muir | Greens | Mining and Pastoral Region | 2005 Western Australia | Ngalia |
| Kado Muir | Greens | Western Australia (Senate) | 2010 federal | Ngalia |
| Kado Muir | Greens | Mining and Pastoral Region | 2013 Western Australia | Ngalia |
| Kado Muir | Nationals | Western Australia (Senate) | 2016 federal | Ngalia |
| Mark West | Family First | Solomon | 2004 federal | |
| Marcia Ella-Duncan | Greens | New South Wales (Senate) | 2007 federal | Yuin |
| Warren H Williams | Greens | Northern Territory (Senate) | 2010 federal | Arrernte |
| Warren H Williams | First Nations | Namatjira | 2012 Northern Territory | Arrernte |
| Warren H Williams | Greens | Northern Territory (Senate) | 2013 federal | Arrernte |
| Russell Jeffrey | Labor | Brennan | 2012 Northern Territory | |
| Dean Rioli | Labor | Arafura | 2012 Northern Territory | Tiwi |
| Eileen Cummings | First Nations | Solomon | 2013 federal | Ngalakgan |
| Des Headland | Palmer United | Durack | 2013 federal | Noongar Yamatji |
| Des Headland | Palmer United | Western Australia (Senate) | 2014 special Western Australia Senate (federal) | Noongar Yamatji |
| David Wirrpanda | Nationals | Western Australia (Senate) | 2013 federal | Yolŋu Yorta Yorta |
| Ken Canning | Socialist Alliance | New South Wales (Senate) | 2016 federal | Bidjara |
| Josephine Cashman | One Nation | Lyne | 2022 federal | Worimi |
| Rod Jensen | Katter's Australian | Leichhardt | 2022 federal | |
| Celeste Liddle | Greens | Cooper | 2022 federal | Arrernte |
* 1 2 3 While Watson appeared on the ballot paper as an independent on these occasions, he was endorsed by Socialist Alliance, which was not registered with the relevant electoral commission for those elections.
* ↑ While Frankland appeared on the ballot paper as an independent, he was endorsed by the Indigenous-focussed party Your Voice, which was not registered with the Australian Electoral Commission.